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Two Kasilof men charged in arson case

Two men are charged with arson, burglary and criminal mischief, all felony charges, after allegedly starting a fire on a vacant property in Kasilof on Wednesday night.

Alaska State Troopers reported Brian M. James, 23, and Casey A. James, 30, both of Kasilof, entered a camper at 19020 Ridge St., that had been converted into a seasonal cabin and ransacked the inside. The men allegedly took books and other materials from inside the camper and placed them on the tundra and lit it on fire.

The damage is estimated to be more than $1000.

The owner of the property, Rosemary Pence, had received a phone call from a friend, who informed her that her property was on fire. Pence was on scene when troopers arrived.

According to the report, when she arrived, Pence saw two men standing by the fire as well as one inside the camper. She told troopers she had never seen the men before, and they allegedly fled when approached.

The two men charged were found by troopers hitchhiking at 12:20 a.m. on the Sterling Highway near Coho Loop in Kasilof. They were arrested and their clothes and shoes were seized for crime lab testing.

The men are in custody at Wildwood Pretrial Facility.

Troopers are seeking a possible third suspect in relation to the crime.

Anyone with information is requested to call Soldotna Alaska State Troopers at 907-262-4453.